TEMPE -- The field at the PING/ASU Invitational just a weekend ago appeared daunting, as it featured six top-15 teams and the top-ranked team in the country in No. 1 Alabama.
The No. 10 Arizona State women's golf team, comprised of two freshmen, two sophomores and one upperclassman in junior Monica Vaughn, have been built up by their head coach all season to not be intimidated by any team in the country.
As a result of that consistent uplifting encouragement, the Sun Devils haven't backed down from any challenge as of late and certainly didn't do so on their own course. The young Devils showed they indeed could play with any team in the country, as they upset the top-ranked Crimson Tide and were on the heels of No. 3 UCLA by tournament's end.
Freshman Linnea Strom -- who had compiled three top-10 and two second-place finishes in her last four tournaments -- finished third at five-under par and ahead of 11 women ranked ahead of her in the individual Golfstat player rankings, including the No. 5, 6 and 10-ranked female golfers. It was also her fourth tournament out of eight during her rookie season where she has finished under par.
Fellow freshman Madison Kerley had arguably her best finish and performance since the Stanford Intercollegiate, as she placed 14th at three-over par following a three-under round on day three.
Officially, sophomore Sophia Zeeb had her best tournament of the season with a two-over performance and her first top-10 finish.
As a team, the Sun Devils are playing arguably their best golf of the season -- and at the right time as they prepare for the Pac-12 Championships in Pleasanton, Calif. from Monday, April 18 thru Wednesday, April 20 at Ruby Hill Golf Club.
"We need to keep playing to our strengths and playing smart," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "I think that our belief in ourselves is really important. The fact that they're playing right with the best teams in the country -- which the Pac-12 is the best conference in the country -- and we're playing five of the top-13 in the country this week. It's crazy how good it is. On any given day, we're right there with them, and I think that because we are such a young team, my goal is to continue to work on their confidence and reminding them that they're really good. Whatever their goals are, they can achieve them."
The No. 10 ranking is the highest the Sun Devil women's golf program has entered the Pac-12 Championships since 2013-14 when they were ranked No. 6.
While last year's course played tough on the Devils, this year's Jack Nicklaus' design appears to play to the Devils strengths according to Farr-Kaye.
"I would compare it most to the course we played in Chicago -- Westmoreland Country Club," said Farr-Kaye. "Bigger green complexes, bigger bunkers and fairway bunkers, and things like that. We played well there and we're a long hitting team. So I love courses where it benefits long drivers and accuracy. I think that this course will play to those strengths."
At the Windy City Classic, Farr-Kaye's team put together a 11-under performance for fourth place. They were only one stroke out of first place, which was shared by No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Northwestern and No. 11 Arizona. The Devils finished ahead of No. 2 USC, No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Florida. This was all also in their second tournament of the fall season with two freshmen.
The women will tee off on Monday morning, with tee times still to be determined. You can find all tournament information, scoreboards and pairings here.
PAC-10/12 SUCCESS AT ASU: Arizona State has won eight Pac-10/12 titles in its 30 seasons. ASU’s eight Pac-10 titles were in 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007 and 2009.
SUN DEVILS AS PAC-10/12 MEDALISTS: Carlota Ciganda won the Pac-12 titles in 2009 and 2010, which is the last time a Sun Devil won the title. Other Sun Devils who have won the Pac-10/12 championship are Lauri Merten, Cathy Curry, Tina Tombs, Pamela Wright, Danielle Ammaccapane, Pearl Sinn, Brandie Burton, Wendy Ward, Jimin Kang and Louise Stahle.